Destination Dallas: Designing My Dream Home (Part 1)

The yellow areas are the spaces covered in this post!

Our builder’s design center was a Pinterest dream come true. A model home with a beautiful kitchen and gorgeous furnishings, it also had a work space full of every tile and countertop imaginable. I met with the in-house designer, who, as much as I’d like to think I could do this thing on my own, was a valuable sounding board as I brought my visions to life in, oh, about four hours. (Normally, clients take two trips to the design center, but because of our schedule, I had to settle for one.) 

One of the builder's design centers

Even though I had less than 24 hours to plan for my appointment—I spent pretty much the entire night before lying in bed visualizing my designs—I already had a strong sense of the look I wanted: gray, glam (but not gaudy), with, of course, a white kitchen (think Hollywood Regency meets transitional style). That helped eliminate more than half of the options in design center right off the bat (I rejected anything cream-colored or beige), which made my job a little easier. 

We started from the front door and worked our way back. I opted for the builder-grade door—a six-panel mahogany one—but you don’t have to wait long for my first big design moment. It happens literally as soon as you walk inside: Our house has an octagonal, rotunda-style foyer, so to highlight this unique feature, the wood flooring will be laid in a herringbone pattern (with a 12” mitered-edge border). I haven’t met with the lighting specialist yet, but I’m envisioning an orb chandelier hanging overhead, with a pretty foyer table (and fresh flowers!) underneath.  

Herringbone wood floor (my stain is a bit darker)

The walls throughout the whole house will be painted Sherwin Williams On the Rocks, with white ceilings (apparently, in Texas, it’s standard to paint ceilings the same color as the walls, so we had to pay a hefty upgrade fee just for white ceilings!). 

Next: the kitchen! 

Kitchen inspiration! I'm a sucker for subtle Asian design elements (think pagoda lights and Chippendale chairs), paired with glam finishings. (Photo: Studio-McGee.com)

This part of the project was high stakes for me. I’ve never had an amazing kitchen—in our first home, a ho-hum 1970s rancher, I refinished the dated oak cabinets and installed granite, but it was more of a “make this work until we move out” scenario. Our current home’s kitchen is pretty, but small—the house was built in the early 1900s when kitchens were strictly functional—and the cabinets are cream-colored, rather than white. So this was my chance to go all out! 

For the cabinet doors, I chose...can you guess it...white, with rectangular insets. Then I selected a quartz countertop, Carrara Gioia, that (as the name suggests) looks very similar to Carrara marble but without the maintenance concerns (no staining!). 

Samples of our flooring, backsplash tile, and countertop.

My husband, ever the engineer, can’t stand the wasted space above cabinets, so we upgraded to ceiling-height, glass-front, upper-upper cabinets, where we’ll store pretty bowls and other things we rarely use but want to display. Sort of like this (but in white):

Photo: http://miss-dixie.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-subway-tile-obsession.html

We also added a decorative vent hood cover over the stove, and chose these legs for the island (they'll be painted white):

To echo the front foyer flooring, we're going with a herringbone backsplash, in matte gray subway tile with white grout. Sort of like this, but lighter:

Photo: HouseofTurquoise.com

For the most part, the design center had the materials I’d hoped for—except for brushed gold hardware. So I’m waiting until after the house is finished to install my cabinet handles. I’m still deciding between these options (each only about $6 each at Lowe's):

We’ll have two pendant lights over the island. I’m leaning toward a pagoda-style lantern…sort of like this: 

Lightingconnection.com; $250

I’m still deciding on the fixture for the eat-in area next to the kitchen, but I do have a few leading contenders:

Too much Asian influence with the pagoda lanterns? I still have to decide.

I love the style of this, but don't like the $1,000 price tag! 

At $275, this one's much more reasonably priced, but not as beautiful.

Next post: the master bath and Asa’s bath! 

Which Upgrades Boost the Value of Your Allentown Home?

Kitchen remodel: Yay or nay?

My husband and I have spent the first year of our marriage in project turmoil: We've updated the kitchen, added a coffered wall to the master bedroom, built a patio, installed new light fixtures, replaced the basement paneling with dry wall (a project under way even as I type). And we often ask each other: Do you think we're adding any value to the house by doing this?

We both know this isn't our permanent home, which means we have to consider things like resale value and "Will potential buyers really like this change?" At last, we have a firm answer: Remodeling.HW.net has published its annual Cost Vs. Value report, which analyzes the cost recouped from various home remodeling projects, down to the city level. 

So which projects in Allentown, PA, give you the most bang for your buck?

Entry door replacement (steel)

Average job cost in Allentown: $1,202

Resale value: $1,112

Cost recouped: 92.5%

I'm guessing this takes the #1 slot for one unfortunate reason: Allentown has a lot of crime. 

Attic bedroom

Average job cost in Allentown: $52,195

Resale value: $47,762

Cost recouped: 91.5%

More like an attic apartment: According to the report, this project entails converting an unfinished attic space to a 15-by-15 foot bedroom with a 5-by-7 foot full bathroom, complete with four new windows, a dormer, carpeting, and air-conditioning.

Deck addition (wood)

Average job cost in Allentown: $10,152

Resale value: $7,868

Cost recouped: 77.5%

Despite spending half the year swallowed by the polar vortex, Allentown residents love their decks! How big a deck are we talking? Sixteen by 20 feet, made out out of pressure-treated wood, with a built-in bench.

Minor kitchen remodel

Average job cost in Allentown: $19,455

Resale value: $13,997

Cost recouped: 71.9%

To qualify as a "minor" remodel, you have to replace your cabinet doors with new raised-panel ones (leaving the old cabinet frames intact), install new hardware, replace the wall oven and cooktop with energy-efficient models, abolish any trace of laminate, install a "mid-priced" sink and faucet, repaint the trim, update the wall color, and put in new flooring. So much for minor updates, huh?

Entry door replacement (fiberglass)

Average job cost in Allentown: $2,863

Resale value: $2,041

Cost recouped: 71.3%

Yet again, security = priceless.

Major kitchen remodel 

Average job cost in Allentown: $56,471

Resale value: $39,998

Cost recouped: 70.8%

I'm kind of scared to report what's required for a major kitchen overhaul: semi-custom cabinetry (including an island), laminate countertops (odd, I'd expect granite, minimum), double stainless sink, an energy-efficient wall oven and cooktop, ventilation system, built-in microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, custom lighting, resilient flooring, and painted walls, trim, and ceiling. 

Backup power generator

Average job cost in Allentown: $12,028

Resale value: $8,004

Cost recouped: 66.5%

Hurricane Sandy, Winter Storm Pax, the occasional earthquake: A backup system has you covered. 

For Sale: Houses So Tiny They're Adorable!

When I was a kid, I fantasized about living in our laundry room. I imagined a twin bed tucked into a shelf, drawers under my box springs, shelves over my head. It seemed so cozy.

Now, my fascination extends to tiny houses. Like "under 1000 square feet" tiny. There's something so appealing about a compact space done right. It feels functional, yet whimsical. Conservative, yet playful. (And I like the idea of minimal cleaning!)

These listings from across the country fit the bill: super small, and super adorable.

11513 30th Avenue NE | Seattle, WA

$275,000

670 square feet

2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

Built in 1927

1850 Ardmore Road NW | Atlanta, GA

$485,000

995 square feet

3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

Built in 1942

2800 Westwood Avenue | Nashville, TN

$289,000

723 Square Feet

1 bedroom, 1 bathroom

Built in 1940

189 Milner Avenue | Albany, NY

$162,500

783 square feet

2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

Built in 1940

706 51st St. S | Birmingham, AL

$134,900

740 square feet

2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

Built in 1940

4700 Portland Avenue | Minneapolis, MN

$189,900

980 square feet

2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

Built in 1924

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Where Are They Now? HGTV Dream Homes

A rendering of the 2014 HGTV Dream Home

Although the contest hasn't officially opened, HGTV has announced the location of its 2014 Dream Home: Lake Tahoe, California. The 3,200-square-foot cabin is being built in Schaffer's Mill, a golf, ski, and lake community, with lots starting at $275,000. This is the 18th Dream Home giveaway, which most likely means the 18th home HGTV builds, and then either has the builder sell (if the winner takes cash) or watches the new owner sell after the reality of outrageous property taxes sets in. 

The winner will be granted access to a 48-foot yacht (owned by the Schaffer's Mill community) and door-to-door service to a nearby ski resort. In addition to the home, the winner will receive $250,000 and a new vehicle from GMC, but is responsible for real estate transfer taxes, deed recording costs, and closing costs (ack!). The IRS will, of course, take a cut. 

The design features two wings, one with entertainment space, the other with three bedrooms. The wings are separated by an outdoor living space. 

Alternately, the lucky winner can take a cash prize, effectively giving the property back to the builder to sell. "Sometimes, it's not even a matter of whether or not they can afford the house," says Jack Thomasson, the HGTV house planner. "Sometimes, it's a matter of geography, and if you and your family are very settled in a certain area in another part of the country, it's not really practical to move to another location." 

Somehow, I have trouble believing this, as even winners who have tried to claim the properties have ultimately sold them, usually for financial reasons. 

2013 Dream Home | Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Carole Simpson, a resident of rural Columbia, Tennessee, won this Kiawah Island property, not too far from Parris Island, where she was formerly stationed as a Marine. An avid baker, Carole was especially excited about the well-appointed kitchen, as well as the gas fireplace (so she'd no longer have to haul wood). She planned to use part of the $500,000 cash prize to visit her son in Australia. 

Alas, Carole listed the home in June for $2,395,000. (See the listing here.) Features include an aluminum roof, hurricane-proof windows, a great room with 22-foot ceilings, a 600-square-foot deck, a plunge pool, and easy access to the beach. 

2012 Dream Home | Midway, Utah

Vicki Naggy, a hairdresser from a small town in Pennsylvania, won this 4,321-square-foot showplace after entering online twice a day, every day. The home was built for outdoor living, with five decks (connected via boardwalk), mountain views on all sides, and a 2.4-acre lot. Vicki had never been to Utah before, and her husband had never flown in a plane. 

Ultimately, the couple decided to take the cash prize, so the house was listed for sale, fully furnished, for $1,495,000. The home sold in 2012, but lots are still available in the development. 

2011 Dream Home | Stowe, Vermont

Winners Eric and Katie Makstenieks had never been to Vermont. But after they won the 3,400-square-foot, ski-in, ski-out lodge, the Illinois couple decided to use it as a vacation home, then rent the property the rest of the time. They only managed to stay there five times. 

Which is why they put it up for sale. The selling price: $2.7 million, down from nearly $3.8 million (with annual taxes of $27,720). A family of seven from Boston bought the place, with plans to add a fourth bedroom over the garage. The home boasts two giant gathering rooms, a chef's kitchen, and fantastic views of the ski slopes, and was sold with all of the furnishings and artwork from HGTV. 

2010 Dream Home | Sandia Park, New Mexico 

A New Orleans woman whose home was destroyed during Katrina won this New Mexico masterpiece. She later listed the 4,208-square-foot home, located between Santa Fe and Albuquerque on a 3-acre plot, for $1,195,000, and eventually reduced the price to $899,000. It has since sold. (See the former listing here.)

2009 Dream Home | Sonoma, California

Cheryl Smith, a Florida retiree, was another winner who'd never visited the state where her prize home was waiting. As she told a Florida newspaper, "We've never been to California. We don't know what's going to happen." She also noted that she didn't have a dog to live in the matching doggy dream home. Then bigger concerns set in: The sales taxes on the 3,700-square-foot home were half a million dollars, and annual property taxes totaled $25,000 a year, which would have forced Smith's husband out of retirement.

The couple sold the home 3 months later for $2.2 million to the man who built it. (He turned around and listed it again for 10 percent more than that.) The charming part of the story: The couple donated the contents of the home, valued at $187,000, to a California charity for needy children and schools. They did, however, keep the wine from the fully stocked cellar for themselves. 

2008 Dream Home | Islamorada, Florida 

Stephanie Dee, of Iowa, won this 3,500-square-foot Florida Keys stunner, which features a media room, gourmet kitchen, and a fishing room, complete with 18 rods. Dee entered the Dream Home giveaway four or five times a day, but after she won, said she wished the home was in Iowa, rather than the island location in the Keys.

Then there was the money issue: She and her husband would have to fork over $700,000 in sales taxes, another $20,000 in annual property taxes, and several thousand a year for wind insurance. The couple sold the home a few months later for $1,650,000. Then 14 months later, the new owners listed it for $1,599,000 million. The house sold approximately 700 days later for $850,000.

2007 Dream Home | Winter Park, Colorado

This one is close to my heart: The winner lived in Johnson City, Tennessee, where I was born! Bob O'Neill, a retired postmaster from Florida, and his new wife in Tennessee won the 4,000-square-foot Rocky Mountain chalet after they'd spent months hunting for a home together. He ended up selling the place to invest in a dream home closer to his Tennessee residence. 

2006 Dream Home | Lake Lure, North Carolina

 

The winner of this Blue Ridge Mountain mansion, Donald Cook, was from West Virginia. His plan: to live in the 5,700-square-foot home for a few weeks, then sell it to avoid shelling out nearly 20 grand a year in property taxes. He ultimately sold it back to the developer of the lake-view community, Grey Rock. 

The day the building site was announced, the Dream Home developers received 6,000 property inquiries. As of 2010, though, Grey Rock still only had one home: the HGTV Dream Home. It sold at foreclosure price in 2009. The new owners say they relish the solitude: "Being the only home on 4,500 acres is somewhat unique in that our 'neighbors' include black bears, deer, fox, bobcats, wolves, coyotes, plus too many turkeys to count...We still have a number of people who drive up to the electronic gate in hopes of getting in to see the Dream Home. We usually politely refuse their requests to visit." 

2005 Dream Home | Lake Tyler, Texas

Don Cruz of Ilinois won this Texas Dream Home, and in a rare move, opted to settle into the barn-inspired home for good, rather than immediately selling it as most winners do. At 6,000 square feet, the prize home, which includes a main building, separate master suite, and guest house, was seven times the size of his Chicago-area residence.

His first plan was to make the home a B&B, but then he found out he didn't actually own the land the behemoth was built on. He just had a 30-year lease on it, which, according to local rules, meant he couldn't open a business on the property. Then, he considered selling the guest cottage, but hit the same roadblock: Town regulations required that the property stay intact. He finally decided to make ends meet by simply living off of the then-$250,000 prize money.

But the expenses quickly piled up: $2,900 in monthly upkeep, $7,000 a year for homeowners' insurance, $1,000 a month for the mortgage on the family home back in Indiana, and thousands a month on electricity. Then there were the property taxes and the $672,000 he was expected to pay on his winnings. Oh, and the $11,000 he spent repairing his boat, $6,000 to install a dog run, $2,000 for scuba lessons, $1,800 for a go-kart, and $40,000 to charity. 

He finally faced reality after a year and listed the house for $5.5 million, even though local realtors said it was only worth $2.5 million. The final selling price after the home went into foreclosure: $1.43 million.

Did he regret not selling it from the start? Nope. "It's been a blessing. I'm going to miss all of our family and friends here," Cruz told a local reporter. "But no regrets, whatsover. I'd do it all over again." 

2004 Dream Home | St. Marys, Georgia

 

Californian Kathi Nakao claimed this coastal beauty, but with her background in accounting, immediately knew she wouldn't be able to keep the place for long. "I never let myself get where I thought I was going to stay there forever," she told reporters. After spending several long vacations at her Georgia Dream Home, she sold it in July 2005. How'd she spend the winnings? She paid her taxes on the home, renovated her house in Sacramento to resemble the Dream Home, donated money to charity, helped out her children, and bought a 1956 Chevrolet sports car.

The 3,900-square-foot home is now back on the market for $1.25 million, down from $1.5 million. (See the listing here.)